Bears trainers tend to running back Matt Forte after he was injured in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs in Chicago.

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If you're Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith, there are no worse reminders of how injuries can become ultimate X factors shaping the NFL playoff picture during the stretch run.

Two weeks after Cutler, the strong-armed quarterback, broken a thumb while attempting a tackle on an interception runback, Forte was sprawled on the turf at Soldier Field with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

"It's not a good feeling when you see your star tailback go down with a knee injury," Smith said. "It's part of the game. We just have to keep our fingers crossed."

The good news is that Forte's injury wasn't worse. The recovery time is projected at two-to-four weeks. If the Bears qualify for the playoffs, both Cutler and Forte could be back.

First, they've got to get to the playoffs. If the postseason began today, the Bears (7-5) would be in the NFC field as the fifth seed. With three of their final four games on the road — including Sunday at Denver and Christmas at Green Bay— the competition against the likes of Detroit, Atlanta and either Dallas or the New York Giants for the wild-card slots will likely extend until the regular season's final weekend.

"If we make the necessary changes, adjustments and improvements we have to make, we'll be in great shape," Smith says. "One win away from feeling a lot better."

He did mention if. Caleb Hanie threw six interceptions in back-to-back losses as Cutler's fill-in, including three during the upset against the Chiefs on Sunday when some of the Bears' season-high seven sacks allowed were on him for hanging onto the ball for too long. Smith insists the Bears have no other QB options beyond players already on the roster, rookie Nathan Enderle and journeyman Josh McCown, whose only six passes over the past three years came in 2009.

"We're not looking on the outside," Smith said. "We're not having a quarterback tryout, or anything like that. These are our guys and we're all going to get better."

That underscores the tall order for offensive coordinator Mike Martz, also suddenly without the running back that he often compared to the Hall of Famer that he had with the Rams, Marshall Faulk, because of his multi-purposed impact.

Forte, averaging 4.9 yards per rush, leads the league with an NFL-high 1,487 yards from scrimmage and represents 38% of the Bears' offensive yards.

Don't expect backup runner Marion Barber III to assume Forte's role. Barber is built for the power rushing game. He is hardly a nifty option in the passing game. Barber didn't even line up properly during a crucial moment Sunday, as his TD catch was nullified when he failed to properly line up wide on the line of scrimmage.

Even so, it's conceivable to expect Martz to lean more heavily on Barber's power game, while third-year back Khalil Bell gets a shot at the rushing-receiving functions.

Fresher additions include Broncos linebacker Von Miller, who missed Sunday's game at Minnesota while recovering from thumb surgery; and 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, who left Sunday's game against the Rams with a pulled hamstring.

Then there are the Texans. All-pro receiver Andre Johnson, who missed six games due to an injured right hamstring, left Sunday's game against the Falcons with an injured left hamstring. It has been that type of season for Houston (9-3), which can clinch the AFC South crown this weekend despite being down to its third quarterback, rookie T.J. Yates, after losing Matt Schaub (foot) and Matt Leinart (collarbone) to season-ending injuries. And star linebacker Mario Williams (pectoral muscle) is out for the season, too.

No wonder defensive coordinator Wade Phillips kept a straight face when asked Sunday to describe his thoughts when linebacker Brian Cushing left during the first half of Sunday's game with a knee injury. Cushing returned in the second half.

"You hate to lose anybody, but it was just, 'Next man up,' " Phillips said. "That's kind of been the case all season."

Next man up is a well-tested NFL mantra.

But there are never any guarantees for how well it will apply.

Five other things we learned from Week 13:

? Jim Schwartz has to get his team under control. One week, all-pro defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh stomps on an opponent, leading to a two-game suspension. Now a flurry of silly, after-the-whistle personal fouls mar the Lions' loss at New Orleans. It's crisis time in Detroit. Since their 5-0 start, the Lions have lost five of seven games — and each week it's some emotional firestorm adding to the woes. The culprits this time included Titus Young, Stefan Logan and Brandon Pettigrew on a night the Lions committed 11 penalties for 107 yards. Schwartz met with team captains on the plane ride from New Orleans, but given the series of incidents spanning weeks these self-discipline issues didn't pop up overnight. It's also striking to note that the first major brouhaha involved Schwartz himself during the handshake incident with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh at the end of Detroit's first loss of the season.

? Donovan McNabb just got another defining wakeup call. After requesting and receiving his release from the Vikings, a funny thing happened on McNabb's way to one of the many NFL teams in need of a quarterback: No team claimed him , and he's still looking for a job. It is an inglorious final chapter for a man who used to be one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, but now defends himself against charges that he's out of shape and doesn't work hard enough at preparing. Andy Reid traded McNabb to a team within the division (Washington), the Redskins gave up on McNabb about halfway through his first season, and the Vikings demoted him to third-string. That can't all be coincidence. McNabb, who didn't want to run Minnesota's scout team, had to figure he'd land somewhere during the stretch run. Maybe it still happens. But within the past couple of weeks, Kyle Orton, Kellen Clemens and Sage Rosenfels have found new gigs and McNabb has not.

? It's still not a good idea to "freeze" your kicker. The first 21 questions during Cowboys coach Jason Garrett's day-after press conference on Monday all related to the fiasco at the end of regulation during Sunday's OT loss at Arizona. After rookie Dan Bailey made an apparent 49-yard game-winning field goal, the kick was nullified because Garrett called timeout just before the snap. When Bailey tried again, he missed. Yet Garrett is also under fire for game-management issues that preceded the kick, as the Cowboys, with two timeouts, failed to attempt to position themselves closer for a field goal after getting a first down at the Cardinals' 31. When Green Bay won on a last-second kick, it moved just a bit closer for Mason Crosby, who won with a 30-yard trey. Garrett, however, was resigned to let Bailey — who missed a 53-yard try earlier in the game and made a 50-yarder that caromed off the upright — kick from 49 yards away. Then he froze him with the timeout. The Cowboys, as usual, were great in November. But now it's December, when Dallas has not been so great in recent years. The blunders in the desert might come back to haunt the Cowboys.

? Tim Tebow just might ride this wave into the playoffs. With the fourth quarter of the NFL's season upon us, look who's in first place: The Broncos. If the playoffs were today, Denver (7-5) would be AFC West champs, edging the Raiders on a tiebreaker. Another comeback job at Minnesota, signed by Tebow and wideout Demaryius Thomas (4 catches, 144 yards, 2 TDs), adds fuel to the possibility of the playoffs for a team that was 1-4 when Tebow took over at quarterback. Two tough opponents are headed to Denver for the next two weeks. The Bears have the defense that might slow Tebow down and the Patriots will bring a Tom Brady-armed offense that would challenge Tebow to produce a ton of points. Yet one quick glance at the Raiders schedule (at Green Bay, Detroit, at Kansas City, San Diego) suggests that this race could go down to the wire — which is exactly when Tebow is at his best.

? Buzz about another Brett Favre comeback is here again. It took awhile, but you knew it had to happen eventually. Would he come off the farm to play again? According to an ESPN report that quoted a person close to Favre, the Wrangler jeans guy would consider returning if the Bears called. Bears coach Lovie Smith hasn't picked up the phone or requested that they rev up the corporate jet. He says he's not looking for another quarterback, stocked so deep (my words) behind the injured Jay Cutler with Caleb Hanie and Josh McCown. In recent weeks, Favre was said not to be interested in returning for the Dolphins or the Texans. Evidently, the Bears are different. Imagine Favre on the other side of the storied Packers-Bears rivalry with a chance to try to upset the Packers in a playoff game at Lambeau Field. Now wake up. The Bears are banking on having Cutler back, or at least hoping, if they manage a trip to Green Bay in January.

Now, on to the awards and stuff …

Stud of the week:Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are still unbeaten (12-0) and have achieved one key goal by winning the NFC North crown with the shootout victory at the New York Giants. Rodgers was his usual brilliant self, passing for 369 yards and four TDs. OK, his 106.2 passer rating was his lowest of the season. No matter. Beyond numbers, Rodgers was cool and precise in guiding Green Bay to its pressure-packed winning field goal drive in the final minute.

Offensive player of the week:Ray Rice. During the three Ravens losses this season — all of which followed victories against AFC contenders Pittsburgh twice, and Houston — Rice was a diminished factor with 13, 8 and 5 carries. All losses. The Ravens, coming off the Thanksgiving Night win against the 49ers, didn't make the same mistake during Sunday's romp at Cleveland. They fed Rice the football, then fed him some more. Rice carried a season-high 29 times for a career-high 202 yards to make quite the statement about the formula that can be essential to winning.

Defensive player of the week: Justin Houston. The third-round rookie linebacker from Georgia had a monster game that helped the Chiefs score an upset at Chicago: 7 tackles, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a pass defensed. D-coordinator Romeo Crennel's plan to break in Houston gradually seems to have been the right approach. Houston, a first-round talent who slid during the draft, had his best game of the season on Sunday and has emerged as an every-down player. Alongside Derrick Johnson and Tamba Hali, Houston could be a long-term pillar for a linebacking crew that formulates the heart of the D.

Special teamer of the week:Antonio Brown. The Steelers' second-year pro has developed into a capable receiver, but also reminded the Bengals that he's an impact returner, too. Brown stung Cincinnati with a 60-yard punt-return score before halftime that broke open Pittsburgh's victory.

Rookie of the week: T.J. Yates. In his first pro start, the fifth-round quarterback from North Carolina eased the anxiety of Texans fans in helping to defeat Atlanta (86.8 rating, 1 TD, 0 INTs) for Houston's sixth consecutive victory. Three weeks ago, he was third-string. Now here's three ways he impressed: arm strength, mobility and poise. The Texans (9-3) are closing in on the franchise's first playoff berth, and with Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart done for the year with injuries, Yates looks to be up to the challenge of becoming a quality triggerman to keep the train moving. Kudos are also in order for Texans coach Gary Kubiak, coordinator Rick Dennison and quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp for getting Yates ready to play.

Comeback player of the week:Chris Johnson. Playing through a stomach illness that dogged him for a week, the Titans back made the Bills sick by rushing for 153 yards and 2 TDs, including a 48-yard jaunt. After gaining just 366 yards through 8 games, Johnson has since rushed for 486 yards with three games of at least 130 yards. By the way, Johnson's long score was his ninth career TD run of at least 45 yards, which is tied for fourth-most in NFL history (Ollie Matson, Paul Lowe). Only Barry Sanders (18), Jim Brown (13) and O.J. Simpson (10) posted more.

Unsung hero of the week:Jared Gaither. Stung by a rash of O-line injuries that have contributed to the woes reflected with a six-game losing streak, the desperate Chargers claimed the left tackle on waivers on Wednesday, then started him on Monday night at Jacksonville as Philip Rivers' blind-side protector. Gaither held up. Rivers had 28 pass attempts during the rout of the Jags and was never sacked. The protection allowed for a flashback performance: 22 of 28, 294 yards, 3 TDs and 0 INTs. Gaither was cut by the Chiefs after committing an untimely false start on his only snap during a Week 12 loss to the Steelers, but suddenly became the third left tackle for the Chargers in four weeks. With the chance to live in San Diego, too, it seems that Gaither got the best end of the exchange. At least for now.

This week's big surprise: The playoff-contending Bears lost, at home, to Tyler Palko. With Caleb Hanie at quarterback (and throwing three more interceptions) and running back Matt Forte knocked out with a knee injury, the Bears could manage only a field goal on Sunday in stumbling to the Chiefs at Soldier Field. To make matters worse, Kansas City scored the game's only touchdown on a Hail Mary pass just before halftime. Uh-oh. That's two games, two losses without Jay Cutler. Now Forte's out. And up next is a trip to Denver to face Tim Tebow.

This week's genius: Jim Harbaugh. With the lockout and all, this was supposed to be the year that rookie coaches couldn't compete. Yet with a 26-0 smackdown of the Rams on Sunday, the 49ers (10-2) and their rookie coach clinched the NFC West title. It's the first playoff berth for the franchise since 2002.

Bonehead blunders of the week: Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was a shoe-in for this spot with horrendous game-management during crunch time at Arizona. … then came Sunday night. The Lions, at New Orleans, helped beat themselves again with a bizarre lack of composure in the second half, just as they appeared positioned to mount another big comeback. Didn't this team learn anything from the Ndamukong Suh incident? Apparently, not everyone. Titus Young, Stefan Logan and Brandon Pettigrew all drew stupid unsportsmanlike conduct penalties with after-the-whistle infractions that doused the comeback efforts. Young threw a punch — over an official. Logan mouthed off with a Saints player and flicked the football at him, DeSean Jackson-style. Pettigrew shoved an official. For all the progress the Lions have made this season, they are making a more distinct mark as an undisciplined, out-of-control team that can't keep its cool.

Did you notice?James Harrison had three sacks to help the Steelers close the door on Cincinnati. Each of the sacks came on first down, leading to three-and-out. After missing a month due to a fractured eye socket, Harrison has become the first Steeler since the sack became an official stat in 1982 to post three sacks in two games during the same season. He's also climbed back among league leaders with eight sacks on the season, 13th in the NFL.

Stat's the fact: Tebow, 6-1 as Broncos starter this season, had his first 200-yard game and a career-best 149.3 passer rating in Sunday's win at Minnesota, when he threw for 2 TDs without a pick. Tebow has led the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime five times, which is tied with Scott Brunner and Marc Wilson for the most during a quarterback's first 10 starts since 1970.